This is the first study to provide a systematic and thorough investigation of continuo realization styles appropriate to Restoration sacred music, an area of performance practice that has never previously been properly assessed. Rebecca Herissone undertakes detailed analysis of a group of organ books closely associated with the major Restoration composers Purcell, Blow and Humfrey, and the London institutions where they spent their professional lives. By investigating the relationship between the organ books' two-stave arrangements and full scores of the same pieces, Herissone demonstrates that the books are subtle sources of information to the accompanist, not just short or skeleton scores. Using this evidence, she formulates a model for continuo realization of this repertory based on the doubling of vocal parts, an approach that differs significantly from that adopted by most modern editors, and which throws into question much of the accepted continuo practice in modern performance of this repertory.

About the Author
Rebecca Herissone is Lecturer in Musicology in the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures at the University of Manchester, UK.

Reviews

'... refreshingly undogmatic... The comparisons with the parallel full scores are invaluable here, and the presentation is commendably clear in the music examples given in the text... This is a fascinating study, well presented, and should be read by anyone involved with performing Restoration sacred music.' Choir & Organ ... a thorough and carefully reasoned study of organ books associated with the major London sacred institutions toward the end of the 17th century. Early Music Though this book will be of interest only to a limited number of readers, chiefly editors and organists concerned with this particular repertory, it is none the worse for that,and for such as these, it must be regarded as essential reading... The topic itself is one that has not been properly investigated before... it is good to have had it so carefully and conscientiously explored. Music and Letters

Book Information
ISBN 9780754641506
Author Rebecca Herissone
Format Hardback
Page Count 160
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 362g